Second Uncle Luo is skilled in business, well-read in poetry and books, and a good person, but he didn’t take the imperial examinations. Instead, he traveled around trading, amassing a significant fortune.
He and Second Aunt Luo have a great relationship. They grew up as childhood friends, and after getting married, they remained a loving couple, collaborating on everything.
When Second Aunt Luo gave birth to An Hui as their first child, others saw it was a daughter and were worried Second Uncle Luo would be upset.
Unexpectedly, Second Uncle Luo happily held onto An Hui and wouldn’t let go, doting on her as if she were his very eyes.
Later, Second Aunt Luo gave birth to two sons, but Second Uncle Luo still favored An Hui the most.
Second Aunt Luo’s health suffered after giving birth to her youngest son, and she remained unwell. After An Hui got married, it wasn’t long before Second Aunt Luo passed away.
After her passing, Second Uncle Luo never remarried. Once his eldest son got married, he handed over the inner house affairs to his eldest daughter-in-law. He also stopped trading, leaving the business to his sons, while he lived a quiet life on his own.
This ti when An Hui ca back, Second Uncle Luo was initially very happy. But when An Hui entered the house and he saw how thin she had beco, he nearly exploded with anger.
Later, he had An Yuan’s wife discreetly ask An Hui and learned about the botherso issues caused by the Xu Family, which made Second Uncle Luo even more furious.
But as a man, it was hard for him to discuss childbirth with his daughter, and An Yuan’s wife, being young and inexperienced, didn’t know what to do either.
After thinking it over, Second Uncle Luo decided to have An Yuan’s wife go to the main house to gauge the situation, hoping to send An Hui to Mrs. Luo for a few days of care, and to carefully inquire what exactly was going on with An Hui.
During his life, Pri Minister Luo had a very good relationship with the second branch. Mrs. Luo also had a good rapport with Second Aunt Luo, and she genuinely liked An Hui. Upon hearing about this matter, Mrs. Luo was furious and imdiately agreed to let An Hui stay for a few days to talk with Anqing and Anning and get so support, but also to get to the bottom of what was going on with An Hui.
If the Xu Family were indeed bullying them because they thought the Luo Family lacked a man to hold down the fort, even though Pri Minister Luo had passed, and the n in the Luo Family couldn’t support the family line, there was still Mrs. Luo, an Imperial Decree holder, and she would certainly not allow the Xu Family to bully her child.
Mrs. Luo recounted An Hui’s situation to Anning.
Anqing, sitting nearby, added, "An Yuan’s wife said the Xu Family almost pointed at An Hui’s nose and scolded her for being unproductive, claiming she was a barren hen for not giving Old Xu Family a son all these years. They also said An Hui wasn’t accommodating, and since her first child was a daughter, she should accept a concubine for her husband. Anyway, what An Hui’s mother-in-law said was very harsh, and she’s been making An Hui follow strict rules, which has worsened her health."
Anning sneered, "Isn’t it just because they see our Luo Family as lacking soone to keep the family line going, thinking Second Uncle is just a businessman and can be manipulated by the Xu Family? They look down on Sister An Hui, yet they still spend Sister An Hui’s dowry. It’s truly hypocritical."
"What do you an?"
Anqing turned to ask Anning.
Anning tapped the table twice, "Hypocritical, pretending to be virtuous while acting despicably, it’s most disgusting."
Anqing couldn’t help but burst into laughter at this explanation.
Mrs. Luo also had a faint smile on her face, pointing at Anning and mock-scolding, "You, you, even after getting married, you haven’t settled down one bit. How could you say sothing like that, and how co your husband doesn’t discipline you?"
Anning scrunched her little nose, "He wouldn’t discipline . At ho, I do as I please, and my father-in-law and mother-in-law never say anything. My mother-in-law even cooks snacks from their hotown for . They treat very well, and my husband lets do what I want. He said if I climb the roof, he’d bring a ladder, if I kill soone, he’d hand a knife, if I set a fire, he’d keep watch."
Anning’s lively deanor reassured Mrs. Luo.
The situation with her eldest daughter’s marriage had already saddened Mrs. Luo greatly, and she was constantly worried that Anning might not have a good life in the Xiao Family, or worse, that she might be bullied, and whether her in-laws would be critical.
Hearing what Anning said, she felt quite relieved.
At least for now, it seed that the Xiao Family was treating Anning quite well.
Anqing was rather envious of Anning. She sighed, "Your husband treats you well, but you should have so restraint, don’t be so spoiled and make your husband lose patience."
"Hmm, hmm."
Anning quickly nodded, "I know my limits, I wouldn’t ss around."
Just then, Sixi ca in and said, "Madam, Miss Hui has arrived."
"Quickly invite her in."
Mrs. Luo stood up, and Anning and Anqing hurried out to greet An Hui.
As soon as they stepped out, they saw An Hui wearing an apricot-colored jacket, with a pale green floral skirt underneath, draped in a thin coat as she walked over from a distance.
Anning hurriedly took a few steps forward, and when An Hui arrived, she linked her arm through An Hui’s, "Sister Hui."
An Hui smiled and entered the house with Anning and Anqing.
Once inside, she removed her coat and was about to give a grand bow to Mrs. Luo.
Mrs. Luo held her up, "There’s no need for all that in your own ho. Let’s sit and have a good chat."
An Hui smiled gently and sat down by Mrs. Luo’s side.
Sixi instructed the servant girl to bring tea and snacks.
Mrs. Luo scrutinized An Hui, and after a few glances, her eyes were slightly moist, "Child, how have you grown so thin? If things aren’t going well at your in-laws’, just send word back ho. Whatever the case, your family will support you."
With her head down, An Ning noticed a few tears fall from An Hui’s eyes.
She wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, "I’m alright, it’s just... not being able to have a son, I can’t avoid my in-laws and husband being dissatisfied with ."
Seeing the expression on An Hui’s face, Anning knew she must have suffered greatly in the Xu Family. Before her marriage, she was such a lively person, and now, in just a few years, she had beco timid and self-deprecating. It must be that the Xu Family routinely reproached her.
After a few more glances, she gently pinched her fingers with her right hand, and her face suddenly turned somber.
Anqing noticed Anning’s unusual expression and tugged at her, "Sister, did you see sothing?"
Mrs. Luo also looked towards Anning.
Anning nodded, moved closer to examine An Hui more closely, becoming more and more alard.
"Sister An Hui, stay at ho for a while, and whatever you do, don’t return to the Xu Family during this period."
"Why?"
An Hui didn’t understand what was going on.
Anning sighed, "I sense there’s misfortune surrounding you, with a touch of Death Energy, surely soone is plotting against you. I’ve also calculated your fate, and it’s very ominous. If you go back, you may not live long."
An Hui was startled, taking a deep breath to look at Anning, "When did you learn to tell fortunes, Sister Ning?"
Mrs. Luo and Anqing both had serious expressions.
Anning spoke softly, "I learned from my husband. He’s the Sect Master of the East God Sect, and seeing portents of fortune is a minor skill for him. Having been married to him these days, I’ve picked up a little as well. Your situation is clear, I’m not mistaken."
An Qing quickly told An Hui, "Indeed, Brother-in-law’s spells are very powerful. The fact that I’m alive and back is much thanks to him."
She recounted to An Hui the events of how Xiao Yuan broke the spell on her.
An Hui had heard about the sches against Anqing involving Li Pengcheng and Chunniang, but she didn’t know Anqing had been afflicted with a poison. Now hearing about it, her heart raced in shock, "Such things happen? That’s too appalling."
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